Grid operator vs assistant operator

The differences between grid operators and assistant operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a grid operator has an average salary of $42,658, which is higher than the $37,607 average annual salary of an assistant operator.

The top three skills for a grid operator include EMS, NERC and interchange. The most important skills for an assistant operator are customer service, ladders, and safety procedures.

Grid operator vs assistant operator overview

	Grid Operator	Assistant Operator
Yearly salary	$42,658	$37,607
Hourly rate	$20.51	$18.08
Growth rate	-7%	-8%
Number of jobs	31,895	88,093
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age	49	50
Years of experience	-	2

Grid operator vs assistant operator salary

Grid operators and assistant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Grid Operator	Assistant Operator
Average salary	$42,658	$37,607
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $65,000	Between $28,000 And $50,000
Highest paying City	-	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	-	Connecticut
Best paying company	-	Massachusetts General Hospital
Best paying industry	-	Energy

Differences between grid operator and assistant operator education

There are a few differences between a grid operator and an assistant operator in terms of educational background:

	Grid Operator	Assistant Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common major	Electrical Engineering	Business
Most common college	-	Western Carolina University

Grid operator vs assistant operator demographics

Here are the differences between grid operators' and assistant operators' demographics:

	Grid Operator	Assistant Operator
Average age	49	50
Gender ratio	Male, 69.7% Female, 30.3%	Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 19.4% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between grid operator and assistant operator duties and responsibilities

Grid operator example responsibilities.

Manage AGC system outage using frequency and neighboring balancing authority assistance to maintain system balance and stability.
Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
Operate in compliance with NERC mandates and OSHA regulations.
Submit pacificorp transmission outages and notify neighboring ba and top's as per nerc standard transmission planning.
Direct balance and interchange operators to cut firm/non-firm schedules as needed for sol and or emergency conditions.
Move to the assembly department building electrical panels, installing electrical panels, installing various electrical devices on new centrifuges.

Assistant operator example responsibilities.

Manage proper removal and allocation for full yarn spindles.
Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
Maintain current MSHA training requirements.
Coordinate special movement of ISO tanks.
Certify in MSHA hard-rock mine safety.
Maintain spinning/winding machines by putting idle spindles and cones back into production.

Grid operator vs assistant operator skills

Common grid operator skills

EMS, 36%
NERC, 35%
Interchange, 29%

Common assistant operator skills

Customer Service, 28%
Ladders, 11%
Safety Procedures, 9%
Safety Committee, 6%
Quality Checks, 6%
PPE, 5%